Petition
Abolish all religious exemptions for carrying bladed articles in public
Rejected
15 signatures
What the petition asks
Repeal Section 139(5)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to completely remove the statutory defense that allows individuals to carry a knife or bladed article in a public place for religious reasons.
UK law bans carrying a knife in public without a "good reason," but Section 139(5)(b) grants an exemption for religious reasons.
We believe public safety laws must apply equally to everyone, without exception. No one should carry a blade in public based on faith. The government must remove this exemption entirely to ensure one uniform standard that protects everyone.
We believe public safety laws must apply equally to everyone, without exception. No one should carry a blade in public based on faith. The government must remove this exemption entirely to ensure one uniform standard that protects everyone.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign this petition, which calls for similar action: “Ban carrying religious, cultural & ceremonial bladed & pointed items in public” Ban carrying religious, cultural & ceremonial bladed & pointed items in public
Timeline
| 2 Jun 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
15
Status
Rejected
Rejected
18 Jun 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Aug 2026.